With how unpredictable Atlanta area temperatures can be, the need to protect ourselves and our homes from frozen pipes is more crucial than ever. Don’t worry, our experts are here to help protect you and your pipes from a frozen disaster.
Typical Causes of Frozen Pipes
To start, here are the top four ways your pipes might freeze over. Knowing this will protect your pipes from potential danger.
- Inadequate insulation
- Fast moving weather fronts that cause rapid temperature drops
- Failure to increase the temperature of your thermostat
- Not turning water off lines that supply outdoor faucets
Simple Ways to Protect Your Pipes
Now that you know the top reasons, here are five ways to protect your pipes from freezing over during the unpredictable Atlanta winter weather.
- Insulate Your Exposed Pipes
This is an extremely easy step that takes little time and resources. Find foam pipe insulation sleeves at your local hardware or home improvement store and then apply to your exposed pipes.
- Place Protective Covers on All Outdoor Faucets
Like the above step, inexpensive outdoor faucet covers are available at home improvement and hardware stores. These insulated protective devices create a buffer between a cold faucet and the more frigid outdoor air.
- Open Cabinets Under Faucets on Outside Walls
In many homes, the kitchen sink and its water pipes lie close to an outdoor wall. When temperatures drop to dangerous lows, the insulation between the drywall, plaster, and outer walls may not be enough to keep your pipes from freezing. Open the cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes.
- Leave Water Running on Faucets Connected to At-Risk and Exposed Pipes
Allowing water to drip from faucets that are connected to pipes that lie along outer walls is an efficient way to prevent frozen pipes. All it takes to avoid a catastrophe is running cold water and letting it trickle.
- Maintain Consistent Temperatures in Your Home
If you program your thermostat to turn the heat down at night, reset it so the thermostat maintains a consistent temperature in your house all day and night. This will also help your pipes remain the same temperature.
What to Do When Your Pipes Freeze or Burst
Sometimes preventative measures don’t do enough, and your pipes still freeze or burst. Here’s what to do if you find yourself in that situation.
If no water comes out of your faucet after you turn it on, there’s a good chance you have a frozen pipe. If this happens to you, thaw out your pipes with the following steps:
- Turn on your water faucets to help you locate which pipes are frozen over and also to speed up the thawing process.
- Find the frozen pipes. Usually, they’re located on an outside wall, underneath a sink, or in an unheated crawl space.
- Safely begin to apply heat to the frozen pipes. You can do this by using electric heat pads, electric hair dryers, portable space heaters, or towels soaked in hot water. Don’t use a blowtorch or anything with an open flame.
Unfortunately, your pipes bursting is much a more serious situation. If this happens, first and foremost turn off the main water supply to your house. Then, call one of the trusted plumbers from Mr. Plumber to come take a look. This way, you’ll be able to prevent up to $5,000 to $70,000 dollars of water damage to your house.
Be prepared and prevent your pipes from freezing over this winter, but also don’t let the chill make you worry about your plumbing. Purchasing a Mr. Plumber PlumbingCare™ Maintenance Agreement gives you peace of mind through our preventative maintenance visits, faster service, discounts on repairs and services, plus many more benefits. However, if you’re experiencing a plumbing emergency and need frozen pipes looked at right now, call Mr. Plumber at (770) 777-1111 for fast repair service.
